We have started the fire

Weekend over

Meredith's POV:

"Zozo, can you come help me please? Just toss the salad a little and put it on the table."

"Mommy are you ok?"

"Yes, Zo. Why do you ask?" I reply, putting in last minute touches to the steak and checking on the macaroni and cheese in the oven.

"It's just Andrew coming right? Why are you making a big meal?"

As you can tell I haven't told my children yet about me dating Andrew. Not sure how to approach it. But nothing gets past my intuitive 9 year old.

"Is it wrong to make a special meal for a friend?"

"Ok. But mommy just in case. It's ok if you're dating him. Daddy would want you to be happy." Zola put the salad at the center of the table and goes back to playing toys with her brother and sister.

I look at my oldest and sometimes wonder how she got so much wisdom at such a young age. Andrew is expected over any minute. All I said to the kids was he's coming over for dinner. I mean what else could I have said. "My Italian much younger boyfriend is here to meet you guys officially and we're going to eat with him and it will be awkward."

The doorbell breaks through my reverie. "I'll get it." Zola and Bailey run to the door and opens it with me running not far behind.

"Hi." Andrew smiles politely at the kids with a bouquet of tulips and a box in his hands.

"Hey Andrew. Funny, what are the flowers for?" My only non filtered son asks.

"They're for your mom." Andrew laughs a little nervous.

"Kids why don't you go wash your hands and get ready for dinner?" I interrupt before the shepherd children inquisition begins. As the kids race up the stairs, I take the flowers from Andrew and look curiously at the box.

"Well I couldn't bring wine to dinner with the kids. So I just thought some chocolate chip cookies for dessert would be appropriate."

To see the nerves he's feeling in meeting my kids in an "official capacity" I find very endearing. I found myself fighting the urge to kiss him right there. But let's take it one step at a time. "Have you talked to your dad yet?"

"Can we not talk about that tonight?"

"So I'm assuming that's a no?"

"Wow look at this place setting." The kids come running down the stairs after washing their hands. "Did you guys help with the dinner?" Zola and Bailey proceeded to tell very elaborately how they helped with tonight's meal.

I roll my eyes again as I take out the macaroni and cheese from the oven. "I see you avoided plastic containers this time." Andrew comes around the counter to help me with the food.

"That was a one time thing." We share a laugh and stare in each other's eyes just a little too long. We both head back to the table where the kids are ready to eat.

"So, Andrew we have some questions to ask you." Zola starts. My eyes open in surprise.

"Zozo not now." I say.